Instead of rezoning 341 Sabal Palm Rd from agricultural “Sending” to Residential Subdistrict ” preserve approximately 20 acres of the South Grove Citrus Orchard, which has existed since 1979, intact as an educational/working citrus farm.  It could then become a tourist attraction similar to Rookery Bay.   Conservation Collier and the County should consider acquiring the rest of the land for wildlife protection. 

Thank you for signing the petition, BUT there's no need to contribute any money.  All contributions go to Change. org.  Nothing goes to this cause.

To protect our community, wildlife, and infrastructure, we respectfully request that the  Florida Department of Commerce and Collier County Board of Commissioners reject Petition PL20230016340.  

Why should the land be retained as agricultural?”

1.    To protect the federally endangered Florida panther.  Sabal Palm Road saw four panther roadkill deaths nearby in 2025 (FWC data). 

2.    To protect Tamarindo and VeronaWalk from flooding. New home sales are halted in Tamarindo because of unresolved flooding issues.  VW detention ponds presently drain onto the Sabal Palm property.  Additional development will intensify flooding. 

3.    To ensure the integrity of Rookery Bay. The salinity of Rookery Bay is being dramatically transformed by too much building run-off into the canals.

4.     To reduce traffic congestion and potential strain on nearby Physician’s Regional.  

5.    To avoid another disaster like the 1960s Golden Gate Estates scam.  

6.    To save our Florida citrus industry and to protect small-time farmers

7.     To avoid building homes dangerously adjacent to the Picayune Forest and major fires in the dry season.

8.    To provide an opportunity for Conservation Collier to acquire land proximate to the Picayune Forest.  

This land could possibly even become part of the official Florida Panther Wildlife corridor, 56,000 acres of preserved land temptingly close to VW. 

 If Conservation Collier is unable to purchase it because of having had $25 million taken from its reserves by our present Board of Commissioners, perhaps The Florida Forever Conservation and Recreation Land Acquisition Program might consider the value of purchasing a citrus orchard as an educational opportunity.